HALLOUMAKI case collapses in EU court - Financial Mirror.

The European General Court has closed a case between Greek company Kolios AE and a group of Cypriot sheep and goat milk producers and processors over their intention to register the HALLOUMAKI logo.

Cypriot dairy producers have argued that it disrupts the traditional production of white halloumi cheese in Cyprus. According to the Justice Court, the Greek company has withdrawn its application for registration.

The General Court's ruling is related to the case "Group of Sheep and Goat Milk Producers and Processors v European Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) - Kolios AE Elliniki Viomichania Galaktos".

Kolios AE has filed an application with the EUIPO on September 19, 2019 to register a trademark for the logo''HALLOUMAKI. On September 15, 2020, a group of Nicosia-based sheep and goat milk processors and producers opposed a registration application based on a previous protected designation of origin (PDO) 'Halloumi/Hellim' registered in 2021 for cheeses produced in Cyprus according to a traditional recipe.

EUIPO rejected the group's opposition on the basis that there was no risk that the trademark would be seen as a reference to the Halloumi PDO.

On October 26, 2023, the General Court decided that it was no longer necessary to consider this appeal as Kolios AE had withdrawn its application to register the disputed name. EUIPO stated that